Back-scrubbing device



U. KAWASAKI.

B'ACK SCRUBBING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28. mo.

1,379 925, 1 Patented May 31, 1921.

INVE/VTU/P Ll. IFA WAS/M7 n 5 H Y 4h. 644. 1 Q

UTAKICHI KAWASAKI, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BAOK-SCRUBBING nnvr'cr.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed January 28, 1920. Serial No. 854,618.

To all whom it-may come-m:

Be it known that I, UTAKICHI KAwAsAnI, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Back-Scrubbing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the 1nvent1on is to provide a scrubbing device of simple and inexpensive form by means of which the back and other inaccessible parts of the body may be scrubbed and washed in a convenient and eflicacious manner.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which constitutes a scrubbing element of novel form and operating elements, which latter are attached to the scrubbing element so as to provide for an easy and thorough washing or scrubbmg action, and are so constructed and formed that the device may be packed in small compass.

The invention possesses other advantages and features, some of which, with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outl ne 1n full, that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of the construction of my invention but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form, since the invention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to the drawings Figure l is a top plan View of the deylce.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a modified form.

Fi 3 is a sectional view taken transverseIy through the scrubbing element shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional v1ew taken long1tudinally through the scrubbing element shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan v1ew of another modified form.

In the present embodiment of the invention I provide a scrubbing element 1 preferably comprising an inflated, compressible, resilient ovoidal body portion 2 of rubber or some other suitable material. One face or side of the body portion is roughened preferably by forming protuberances 3 thereon, the protuberances preferably being closely associated and having flat ends. The

opposite face or side of body portion is roughened, preferably to a lesser extent by providmg a sponge-like surface 4. These roughened surfaces cover preferably the entire outer surfaces of the bod portion exceptfor small areas at the en s of the body portlons.

Attached to the unroughened ends of the body and preferably integral therewith are flexlble operating elements or bands 5 which taper in wldth toward their outer ends and have finger openings 6 adjacent said ends. These operating elements are long enough to permit of the user of the device to grasp the ends thereof, with the finger in the openlngs 6, to provide a better grip, and with the arms outstretched, manipulate the scrubblng element back and forth on the back or other inaccessible part of the body to be scrubbed.

The scrubbing element in being compressible and resllient provides for a comfortable conformation thereof to the part of the back or body over which it is rubbed in scrubbing and washing such part and therefore will thoroughly scrub such parts or part of the body. By forming the body portion and operating elements of rubber, the elements are elastic and will aid in the reciprocating scrubbing action owing to their elasticity. When not in use these elements 5 ma be wrapped around the body portion an the device may be stored or packed in small compass.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4:

The modified form comprises a scrubbing element in the form of an inflated referably resilient compressible portion provided. with roughened surfaces formed by protuberances 8 and 9 on opposite sides. The protuberances 8 may be larger than the ones 9 and flat on their ends to provide for a rougher surface whereas the ones 9 are rounded on their ends.

I prefer to removably or detachably secure flexible operating elements 10 to opposite ends of body portion 7. The elements 10 are formed at their outer ends with openings 11 and at their inner ends are joined by strips 12 arranged in spaced pairs. The strips of each pair lie in longitudinal grooves 13 formed in the opposite and roughened sides of the body portion 7 These grooves are deep enough to cause the strips, which strips are preferably circular in cross section, to lie spaced considerably from the ron hened faces of the body portion and out of tie way. The inner ends of the elements 10 are curved and conform to and engage opposite ends of the body portion. By hav ing the scrubbing element removable, provi sion is made for the ready connection of scrubbing elements of different kinds with the operatin elements.

In Fig. 5 have illustrated another modified form in which the scrubbing element is formed identical with the scrubbing element of the other forms of the invention except that at each end pails of flexible tabs 15 are provided. These tabs 15 are preferably integral-with the scrubbing element and carry male and female snap fasteners 16 and 17 respectively. The flexible operating elements 18, part of one of which is shown in Largest Fig. 5, are placed between the tabs and secured to the scrubbing device by snapping the fasteners together with the elements 18 therebetween.

I'blaim- 1. A scrubbing device comprising a scrubbing element, flexible operating elements, and strips connecting the operating elements and extending over and upon opposite sides of said scrubbing element.

2. A scrubbing devirhe comprising a scrubbing element, flexible operating elements, and strips connecting the operating elements and extending over and across said scrubbing element, said scrubbing element having grooves therein to receive said strips.

U. KAWASAKI. 

